Divider and partition device for wire

ABSTRACT

A divider and partition device for wire baskets, including an elongated longitudinal member having attachment means at its opposite ends facilitating attachment to the top sides of a wire basket, and further including rod means projecting downwardly from a point adjacent one end of the elongated longitudinal member and horizontally in a direction away from said one end thereof, said rod means terminating in means for detachably anchoring said rod means to a point on said wire basket adjacent the side thereof opposite the side of said wire basket nearest said point from which said rod means projects downwardly from said longitudinal member. The rod means provided in the divider and partition device of the invention diagonally braces the wire basket when the basket is supported from one of its sides as a cantilever, so that loading of the basket does not distort the basket downwardly in the manner of a flexible cantilevered beam.

States Patent 1 1 Morrison 51 Dec. 30, 1975 [54] DIVIDER AND PARTITION DEVICE FOR WIRE [76] Inventor: Jimmie H. Morrison, 2921 Monitor,

[52] US. Cl. 220/19; 220/22; 220/221; 220/23.83; 211/181; 211/184 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 7/20 [58] Field of Search 220/22, 23.4, 22.1, 19, 220/23.83;211/41,106,112,119,181,184

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,009 1/1926 Sanders, Jr. 220/19 2,016,246 10/1935 Schilling 220/19 2,228,787 1/1941 Snyder 220/22 2,615,592 10/1952 Swedman 220/22 2,662,661 12/1953 Goldman 220/22 2,804,213 8/1957 Fox et al....... 220/22 2,811,277 10/1957 Gaines 220/19 2,971,668 2/1961 Peglow 220/22 2,989,190 6/1961 Buzicky 220/19 3,501,019 3/1970 Armstrong et al... 211/184 3,501,020 3/1970 Krikorian.. 211/184 3,659,722 5/1972 Carroll 211/106 Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner.loseph M. Moy

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Laney, Dougherty, Hessin & Fish [57] ABSTRACT A divider and partition device for wire baskets, including an elongated longitudinalmember having attachment means at its opposite ends facilitating attachment to the top sides of a wire basket, and further including rod means projecting downwardly from a point adjacent one end of the elongated longitudinal member and horizontally in a direction away from said one end thereof, said rod means terminating in means for detachably anchoring said rod means to a point on said wire basket adjacent the side thereof opposite the side of said wire basket nearest said point from which said rod means projects downwardly from said longitudinal member. The rod means provided in the divider and partition device of the invention diagonally braces the wire basket when the basket is supported from one of its sides as a cantilever, so that loading of the basket does not distort the basket downwardly in the manner of a flexible cantilevered beam.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,929,248

DIVIDER AND PARTITION DEVICE FOR WIRE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to wire basket structures generally, and more specifically, to removable wire partitions or dividers securable at selected locations within wire baskets for the purpose of providing chambers or compartments of selected sizes in said baskets.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In the marketing of many types of articles in department stores and the like, it is a widespread practice to display the articles by placing them in wire baskets which are cantilevered from points of support on rigid upright supporting posts or stanchions located at one side of the baskets. When the baskets are thus supported, any heavy load imposed on the basket tends to cause sagging of the basket, and ultimate distortion of the geometric configuration of the basket to the point of uselessness, or extremely unsightly appearance.

The wire baskets thus used are usually constructed of a plurality of individual wires, having one group of the wires including wires extending substantially parallel to each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the basket, and having a second group of wires extending parallel to each other in a direction extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the basket and normal to the wires in the first set. Both the bottom and sides of the wire basket are formed by these two sets of wires. Baskets of the type described are further frequently made open ended so that two of the baskets can be joined together in end to end relation to provide a merchandise receiving bin which has twice the volumetric capacity of one of the baskets alone. Because of the open ended character of the baskets, and for the further reason that it is frequently desirable to subdivide a single basket into a plurality of small compartments, it has been the practice, when wire baskets of the type described are used for displaying merchandise, to provide for use with the baskets, a series of wire dividers or partition devices which can be attached in some way to opposite sides of the basket at selected locations therealong, and extended across the basket to provide the necessary or desirable division. Even when the basket is not to be subdivided into a plurality of compartments, it is still necessary with open ended baskets of the type described to provide a pair of the dividers or partition members at opposite ends of the open ended basket so that the goods deposited therein cannot fall from the basket at its opposite ends.

The wire partition or divider structures which have heretofore been used have functioned fairly effectively as a partition or divider, although some forms of these devices have not been constructed in a way which provides an adequate fence or barrier to prevent relatively small articles from being shifted or forced through openings in the divider, and thus being lost from the basket, despite the presence of these devices. A more serious shortcoming of many of the devices of this type which have been employed in prior art merchandising, however, is that the partitions or divider structures do not substantially enhance the strength of the open ended wire baskets in which they are used, and do not effectively counteract the tendency of the baskets to sag when they are heavily loaded. Stated differently, the dividers themselves tend to be distorted by heavy loading of the baskets, and do not provide 2 adequate bracing or structural rigidity to the basket, mounted as a cantilever, to successfully oppose the sagging anddistortion which has constituted an undesirable experience in the use of such baskets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides an improved divider or partition device for use in wire baskets, which divider or partition device enhances the structural strength of the basket when the divider is mounted therein, and particularly reinforces the basket against distortion due to downward loading at points spaced outwardly from the usual points of support of the basket as a cantilever.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises an elongated, longitudinal member which is provided with means at each of its opposite ends for detachably securing the member to the opposite sides of a wire basket in which the member is to be mounted. The rod means is secured along one side of this longitudinal member, and projects therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal member. The rod means extends from a point of attachment adjacent one end of the longitudinal member to a point spaced downwardly from the opposite end of the longitudinal member. At this latter point, the rod means is provided with means for detachably securing the rod means to the basket, or for establishing contact between the rod means and the basket when the basket is loaded. Between this point of securement or contact between the rod means and the basket, and the first point of attachment of the rod means to the longitudinal member, a portion of the rod means functions as a diagonal brace extending from a point near the bottom of the basket at one side thereof to a point near the top of the basket at the opposite side thereof. The rod means includes a plurality of wires which are arranged and geometrically configured to minimize the gaps between the wires, through which gaps an article contained in the basket might otherwise pass. Moreover, the wires forming the rod means are arranged and configured to provide the diagonal bracing function resisting sagging of the basket under loading, and yet be aesthetic in appearance.

In another of its aspects, the present invention includes a plurality of vertically projecting posts each having vertically spaced slots formed along at least one side thereof, a plurality of slotted brackets detachably engageable with the slots in the posts at selected locations thereon, and a wire basket detachably securable to the brackets by engagement of wires of the basket with slots formed in the brackets.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be apparent that a major and important object of the invention is to provide a wire partition or divider device which can be quickly and easily secured at a selected location within a wire basket so as to reinforce the basket and enhance its strength and ability to support heavy loads without sagging when the basket is supported as a cantilever from one side thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire partition or divider device which can be employed to form a common wall or partition extending across a pair of open ended wire baskets aligned in end-to-end relation, with the divider device functioning to detachably interconnect such wire baskets at adjacent open ends thereof.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an improved overall assembly for mounting and supporting wire baskets in a cantilevered fashion from a plurality of upright posts, so that the wire baskets may be quickly and easily detached from such posts, and may be quickly and selectively located at any desired height thereon.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a divider and partition device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the divider and partition device of the invention as it is used for joining two open ended wire baskets together, and for providing a divider or partition within one of the wire baskets. J

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and illustrating, by an enlarged view, a bracket forming a portion of one embodiment of the present invention, and used for supporting a wire basket on slotted posts.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of one of the brackets used for supporting a wire basket on a slotted post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, shown therein is one embodiment of the divider and partition device of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the partition device includes an elongated, longitudinal top member designated generally by reference numeral 10. The longitudinal top member includes a pair of wires or rods 12 and 14 which are positioned in parallel relation to each other over a major'portion of their length, and which are secured in this position by any suitable means. The wires 12 and 14 are made divergent with respect to each other adjacent the opposite ends of each of the wires, and, as shown in FIG. 2, thus provide characteristic bifurcations on each of the opposite ends of the longitudinal top member 10. Each of the opposite ends of the wires 12 and 14 are bent through a semi-circular curve so as to provide hooks, 16 and 18, on the wire 12, and 20 and 22, on the wire 14. As will be hereinafter described in greater detail, the hooks 18-22 are used for attaching the partition device to the opposite top sides of a wire basket in which the partition device is used. I

Projecting downwardly from one side of the longitudinal top member 10 is rod means designated generally by reference numeral 24 and including a plurality of wires arranged in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 1. There are thus provided a first, generally U-shaped wire 26 having an elongated web or bight portion 26a, and a pair of legs 26b and 260. The legs 26b and 260 are brazed or welded at their free upper ends between the wires 12 and 14 constituting elements of the longitudinal top member 10. The rod means 24 furtherincludes a second U-shaped wire 28 which is longer thanthe U-shaped wire 26 and is generally complementary in its configuration with respect to the U-shaped wire26. Thus, the U-shaped wire 28 includes a web or bight portion 280 interconnecting a pair of legs 28b and 28c,

which legs and bight portion are spaced from the legs 26b and 260 and bight portion 26a of the U-shaped wire 26 in the manner illustrated. The upper free ends of the legs 28b and 28c are secured by any suitable means between the wires 12 and 14 of the longitudinal top member 10.

A first pair of diagonal wires 30 and 32 forms a further portion of the rod means 24, and each of these wires has one of its ends secured to the point of intersection of the bight portion 26a and leg 26b of the U-shaped wire 26. A mid portion of each of the diago nal wires 30 and 32 is secured to the intersection of the bight portion 28a and leg 28b of the U-shaped wire 28. At their free lower ends, the diagonal wires 30 and 32 are divergent and are bent through a substantially semicircular configuration to form hooks 34 and 35. A second pair of diagonal wires 36 and 38 completes the structurev of the rod means 24. The diagonal wires 36 and 38 are each secured at one end to the point of intersection between the bight portion 26a and leg 260 of the U-shaped wire 26, and are further secured at a point intermediate their length to the U-shaped wire 28 at the point of intersection of the bight portion 28a with the leg 280. The diagonal wires 36 and 38 diverge at their lower end portions and terminate at their free lower ends in upwardly turned toe portions 39 and 40. V

The divider and partition device of the invention is used in conjunction with wire baskets employed for supporting and displaying merchandise in the manner hereinbefore described. A typical wire basket construction is that which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. As conventionally constructed, such wire baskets, here designated generally by reference numeral 42, are made up of a first set of elongated wires 44 which extend substantially parallel to each other, and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the basket. The basket 42 further includes a second group or set of wires 46 which extend parallel to each other, and in a direction transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the basket. The wires 46 in the second group of wiresthus intersect the wires 44 at a right angle as shown.

The baskets 42 of the type under consideration generally are characterized in having a bottom and two sides extending upwardly therefrom to form a generally trapezoidal figure in cross section. In some cases, wire baskets of the general type described are provided with closed end walls also formed by a plurality of parallel wires. The partition devices of the present invention have utility with respect to baskets of the closed ended type, and function in such usage to provide a partition dividing the basket into one or more compartments.

, The partition device of the invention further has utility,

however, in providing an end gate which functions to provide an end wall in an open ended wire basket of the general type described, and concurrently, functions to join two of such open ended baskets together and provide a common end boundary or wall between the two. It is this type of open ended basket which is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings of the present application.

Wire baskets, whether of the open ended or closed ported as a cantilever from slotted support posts 54 spaced horizontally along one side of the baskets. The slotted support posts 54 used for this purpose are generally hollow posts which have formed in the side thereof facing the baskets, a plurality of vertically spaced slots 56 in the manner depicted in FIG. 4. Usu-- ally, two of such posts are provided for supporting a single open ended basket, although a greater number may be provided in some instances.

For the purpose of supporting the baskets 42 on the posts 54, a plurality of novel supporting brackets 58 are provided. Each of the supporting brackets 58 is provided with a downwardly extending, slanted wire receiving slot 60 formed in the upper side thereof, and with a small wire receiving slot 62 formed in the edge thereof which faces toward the basket to be supported. On the side of the bracket opposite its side in which the slot 62 is formed, each bracket is provided with a plurality of toes or down turned hooks 64 which are di mensioned to pass through the slots 56 and engage the supporting posts 54 in the manner depicted in FIG. 4.

The manner in which the brackets 58 receive and support one side of one of the baskets 42 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 in which it will be perceived that the basket is mounted with the relatively large wire or rod 50 at the top edge thereof received in the slot 60 in the uppermost of a pair of the brackets 58. One of the wires 44 extending longitudinally in the basket 42 passes into, and is received by, the small slot 62 formed in the lower of the two brackets 58. This arrangement facilitates the rapid placement of the baskets 42 at any desired height or horizontal location, and affords a stable support for the baskets at one side thereof. It will be perceived that when the baskets 42 are mounted and supported in this manner, they project outwardly as a cantilever from the points of support afforded by the brackets 58. Thus, they are not directly supported on one side.

In the use of the partition device of the invention, it may be employed either for dividing one of the open ended baskets into a plurality of compartments, or for joining two of the open ended baskets to each other in end-to-end relation, and concurrently forming a common end wall or barrier at the end of each of the joined baskets. The former usage of the partition device of the invention is shown to the left of FIG. 2, where it will be perceived that the partition device there illustrated has been placed in position by hooking the hooks l6 and 20, located at one end of the longitudinal top member 10, over the rod 50 disposed at the top of one side of the basket. The hooks 18 and 22 at the other end of the longitudinal top member 10 are hooked over the other rod 52 forming the top edge of the opposite side of the basket.

The orientation of the partition device of the invention in relation to the basket 42 is further perceptible by reference to FIG. 3. Reference to this figure shows that the hooks 34 and 35 are turned under, and engaged with, one of the longitudinally extending wires 44 forming a portion of the basket. It is also seen that the upwardly turned toe portions 39 and 40 bear against another of the longitudinally extending wires located in one of the sides of the basket 42.

When the partition device of the invention is thus mounted in one of the baskets 42, it divides the basket into a pair of adjacent compartments separated by the partition device. Moreover, the partition device achieves the important function of bracing the basket 42 and reinforcing it so that heavy loads imposed on the basket, and particularly adjacent the outer end thereof, do not distort or bend the basket downwardly.

It will be seen in referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 that the divider and partition device of the invention engages the basket 42 at four points, these being the points of engagement of the longitudinal top member 10 with the rods 50 and 52 at the upper edges of the opposite sides of the basket 42, the point of engagement of the hooks 34 and 35 with the rod 44 adjacent one side of the basket at the bottom thereof, and the point of engagement of the up-turned toe portions 39 and 40 with the longitudinal wire 44 on the opposite side of the basket near the bottom thereof. When the partition device is thus mounted in the basket 42, the imposition of a downward force on the basket near the outer end thereof tends to flex the basket downwardly as a cantilevered beam. However, downward movement of the basket is opposed by the engagement of the books 34 and 35 with the rod 44, and also by the resistance offered to sideways and downward movement of the toes 39 and 40 by the wire 44 with which these structural elements are in contact. The forces thus imparted to the diagonal wires 30 and 32 at one side of the basket,

and 36 and 38 at the other side of the basket, are transmitted through the intervening rod means 24 of the partition device to the rods 50 and 52, and the rod means 24 functions in actuality as a diagonal brace extending from the inner and outer lower corners of the basket to the inner and outer upper corners thereof.

The diagonal bracing function of the rod means 24 is nevertheless accomplished without sacrifice of aesthetics, or lessening of the equally desirable effectiveness of the partition device of the invention as a barrier to prevent movement of articles between the two compartments formed on opposite sides of the partition device. Thus, by providing the U-shaped wires 26 and 28 in combination with the diagonal wires 3038, an effective fence or barrier is formed having relatively small spaces between adjacent wires making up the rod means 24, and therefore functioning to prevent the passage of articles or goods through the spaces between the several wires in the rod means. Moreover, the arrangement is such that a much neater and symmetrical appearance is imparted by the particular device configuration to the overall configuration and appearance of the basket 42.

A second and very important function of the divider.

and partition device of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. Here, a second partition device is shown in the right hand portion of this figure as it is being used to couple, in end-to-end relation, a pair of open ended baskets 42 of the type hereinbefore described. It will be seen that the open ended baskets 42 are constructed so that immediately adjacent the open ends of each basket, one of the transverse wires 46 is provided extending from one side of the open ended basket to the other. By reason of this construction, the bifurcated construction of the opposite ends of the longitudinal top member 10 facilitates the mutual engagement of the end corners of the two open ended baskets by the top member of the partition device.

Thus, as depicted in FIG. 2, the divergent end portions of the wires 12 and 14 which terminate in hooks 16 and 20 are hooked over the rods 50 of the two adjacent open ended baskets, and pass inside of the endmost transversely extending wires 46 of these two baskets. In the same manner, the hooks l8 and 22 formed on the ends of the wires 12 and 14, respectively, pass over the rods 52 of the two adjacent baskets and hook inside of the transverse wires 46 at the opposite sides of the two open ended baskets. A sim lar interconnection of the two open ended baskets is effected through the use of the hooks 34 and 35 formed at the lower ends of the two diagonal wires 30 and 32. The up-turned toe portions 39 and 40 bear respectively against one of the longitudinal rods 44 in one of the open ended baskets and against a second longitudinal wire 44 in the second open ended basket. In this mannet, the partition device forms an end wall closing the end of each of the two aligned open ended baskets, and concurrently joins these two baskets together to reinforce both, and prevent longitudinal separation or spacing of the baskets which would permit articles to fall down therebetween.

From the foregoing description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be perceived that a very useful and effective divider and partition device is provided for partitioning or dividing wire baskets into a plurality of compartments, and for permitting a plurality of such baskets, when open ended, to be joined in serial, end-to-end relation. Moreover, the overall combination proposed herein facilitates the more rapid and trouble-free mounting of wire baskets on supporting posts by the use of novel brackets which can be quickly mounted on the posts in any desired location. The basic principles which have been herein enunciated as imparting to the invention its utility and marked advantages can be carried over into other structures which do not conform precisely to the geometry or arrangement of the structures which have been described herein, and illustrated in the drawings for the purposes of demonstrating principle. Thus, certain structural innovations and changes continuing to rely on the principles underlying this invention will nevertheless, though differing in appearance, continue to be within the scope and spirit of the invention, except as these may be necessarily limited by a fair and reasonable construction of the appended claims, or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising:

an elongated, longitudinal top member;

means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; rod'means attached along one side of longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal top member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including a wire having a non-linear end section thereon arranged for contacting at least one wire of said basket at a second point spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means further including a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and first points, and said wire having said nonlinear end section extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point 8 toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member. 2. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising:

an elongated, longitudinal top member; means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and

rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and said first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket including at least one wire extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member, said rod means further including means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a third point adjacent the bottom of said basket and spaced downwardly from said one end of said longitudinal top member.

3. A partition device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rod means comprises a plurality of wires collectively forming a pair of diagonal braces extending from said second and third points to locations adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinal top member.

4. A partition device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said third point comprises a non-linear end section on at least one of said wires and arranged for contacting at least one wire of said basket for the direct transmission of forces therebetween.

5. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising:

an elongated, longitudinal top member;

means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said wire basket; rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal member, said rod means extending from a point of attachment of the longitudinal member adjacent one end of the longitudinal member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising: first substantially U-shaped wire having a bight portion and having legs extending from the bight portion and each secured at one end of the respective leg to said longitudinal top member; and

a second substantially U-shaped wire having a pair of legs each extending substantially parallel to one of the two legs of said first U-shaped wires, and further having a bight portion extending substantially parallel to the bight portion of said first U-shaped wire; and

wherein said means at said second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprises at least one diagonal wire extending between said first and second U-shaped wires and secured to said first and second U-shaped wires at points where the leg of each of said U-shaped wires intersects the bight portion thereof.

6. A partition device as defined in claim wherein said elongated, longitudinal top member includes a pair of wires extending parallel to each other over a major portion of their length, and bent to diverge from each other at their end portions;

and wherein the means on opposite ends of said 1ongitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket comprises a bent-over hook at each of the opposite ends of each of the wires constituting said longitudinal top member.

7. A partition device as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said second point comprises a hook formed at one end of at least one of said diagonal wires.

8. A partition device as defined in claim 7 wherein said rod means further includes means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a third point adjacent the bottom of said basket and spaced downwardly from said one end of said longitudinal member.

9. A partition device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said third point comprises an upturned toe portion on one end of at least one of said diagonal wires.

10. A partition device as defined in claim 9 wherein the end portions of each of said pair of wires included in said top member are divergent with respect to each other.

11. A partition device as defined in claim 5 wherein said rod means includes two pairs of said diagonal wires, with the diagonal wires in each pair disposed on opposite sides of said first and second U-shaped wires.

12. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising:

an elongated, longitudinal top member;

means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and

rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal member and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal 10 brace for transmitting a force between said second and said first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprising a hook formed at one end of each of two of said wires, at least one of said two wires extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member.

13. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising:

an elongated, longitudinal top member;

a hook on each of the opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and

rod means attached along one side of the longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a point of attachment of the longitudinal top member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a'location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal top member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprising at least one wire extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member.

14. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket having wire side walls, a wire bottom wall, and an open top, said partition device comprising:

an elongated top wire member having reverse bends at opposite ends thereof for engaging wires at the upper edges of the side walls of the wire basket;

a plurality of spaced wires having ends connected to said top wire member at spaced points therealong and lying in a common plane with each other and with said top wire member, said spaced wires extending downwardly from said top wire members;

at least one wire extending substantially parallel to said top wire member and connected to at least two of said spaced wires;

a wire having a reversely bent end thereon for engaging the bottom portion of said basket, said last mentioned wire being secured to at least two of said downwardly extending spaced wires; and

at least one diagonal wire lying in said plane and secured to two of said wires, said diagonal wire extending from a location adjacent a lower corner of the partition device toward an opposite upper corner thereof.

* III 

1. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising: an elongated, longitudinal top member; means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; rod means attached along one side of longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal top member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including a wire having a non-linear end section thereon arranged for contacting at least one wire of said basket at a second point spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means further including a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and first points, and said wire having said nonlinear end section extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member.
 2. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising: an elongated, longitudinal top member; means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and said first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket including at least one wire extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member, said rod means further including means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a third point adjacent the bottom of said basket and spaced downwardly from said one end of said longitudinal top member.
 3. A partiTion device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rod means comprises a plurality of wires collectively forming a pair of diagonal braces extending from said second and third points to locations adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinal top member.
 4. A partition device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said third point comprises a non-linear end section on at least one of said wires and arranged for contacting at least one wire of said basket for the direct transmission of forces therebetween.
 5. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising: an elongated, longitudinal top member; means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said wire basket; rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal member, said rod means extending from a point of attachment of the longitudinal member adjacent one end of the longitudinal member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising: a first substantially U-shaped wire having a bight portion and having legs extending from the bight portion and each secured at one end of the respective leg to said longitudinal top member; and a second substantially U-shaped wire having a pair of legs each extending substantially parallel to one of the two legs of said first U-shaped wires, and further having a bight portion extending substantially parallel to the bight portion of said first U-shaped wire; and wherein said means at said second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprises at least one diagonal wire extending between said first and second U-shaped wires and secured to said first and second U-shaped wires at points where the leg of each of said U-shaped wires intersects the bight portion thereof.
 6. A partition device as defined in claim 5 wherein said elongated, longitudinal top member includes a pair of wires extending parallel to each other over a major portion of their length, and bent to diverge from each other at their end portions; and wherein the means on opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket comprises a bent-over hook at each of the opposite ends of each of the wires constituting said longitudinal top member.
 7. A partition device as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said second point comprises a hook formed at one end of at least one of said diagonal wires.
 8. A partition device as defined in claim 7 wherein said rod means further includes means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a third point adjacent the bottom of said basket and spaced downwardly from said one end of said longitudinal member.
 9. A partition device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at said third point comprises an upturned toe portion on one end of at least one of said diagonal wires.
 10. A partition device as defined in claim 9 wherein the end portions of each of said pair of wires included in said top member are divergent with respect to each other.
 11. A partition device as defined in claim 5 wherein said rod means includes two pairs of said diagonal wires, with the diagonal wires in each pair disposed on opposite sides of said first and second U-shaped wires.
 12. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising: an elongated, longitudinal top member; means on opposite ends of said longitudInal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and rod means attached along one side of said longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a first point of attachment of the longitudinal member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal member and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and said first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprising a hook formed at one end of each of two of said wires, at least one of said two wires extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member.
 13. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket, said device comprising: an elongated, longitudinal top member; a hook on each of the opposite ends of said longitudinal top member for detachably engaging opposite sides of a wire basket adjacent the top of said basket; and rod means attached along one side of the longitudinal top member and projecting therefrom to lie substantially in a plane including the longitudinal top member, said rod means extending from a point of attachment of the longitudinal top member thereto adjacent one end of the longitudinal top member, and including means located at a second point for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket, said second point being spaced downwardly from the other end of said longitudinal top member which is opposite said one end thereof, said rod means comprising a plurality of wires collectively forming a diagonal brace for transmitting a force between said second and first points, and said means for detachably engaging said wire basket at a location adjacent the bottom of said basket comprising at least one wire extending diagonally on said partition device and with respect to said longitudinal top member, and projecting from said second point toward said first point for transmitting force diagonally with respect to said longitudinal top member.
 14. A partition device for providing a partition in a wire basket having wire side walls, a wire bottom wall, and an open top, said partition device comprising: an elongated top wire member having reverse bends at opposite ends thereof for engaging wires at the upper edges of the side walls of the wire basket; a plurality of spaced wires having ends connected to said top wire member at spaced points therealong and lying in a common plane with each other and with said top wire member, said spaced wires extending downwardly from said top wire members; at least one wire extending substantially parallel to said top wire member and connected to at least two of said spaced wires; a wire having a reversely bent end thereon for engaging the bottom portion of said basket, said last mentioned wire being secured to at least two of said downwardly extending spaced wires; and at least one diagonal wire lying in said plane and secured to two of said wires, said diagonal wire extending from a location adjacent a lower corner of the partition device toward an opposite upper corner thereof. 